Get Your Students Hired
As an instructor, I need to make sure that I am doing all that I can to facilitate the success of my students. Many times I have felt almost insulted when students appear uninterested in something I am discussing. I have matured to realized that students feed on how am I presenting the information and if I am including them in the learning process. I feel most comfortable having students take charge of their own learning and me taking a "side" role as a facilitator and encourager, but still viewed as an instructional leader.
If I see students are not focused on a lesson for whatever reasons. I will stop and redirect the energy. If I can give them a break I will call it then and spend the 10 minutes changing my game plan or if I have the ability I might teach another lesson that day if it doesn't throw them off sequential course.
Rolonda,
They really do feed off of our attitude and mood. We need to always remember this as we step into the classroom or lab. We need to bring our passion for our field and enthusiasm for teaching about it each time we teach. We in essence are sales people for our career field and/or subject.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Any daily routine allows anyone to become comfortable. There is so much to do and keep up with being a teacher with lesson plans and evaluations and a host of other things it's easy to lose sight of being excited about the content of the classes we teach day in day out. It's important to refocus because our students need us to be ready and motivated to help them through the courses. I believe they truly feed off of us, our energy was well as our attitude.
Shawn,
Thank you for these targeted comments about refocusing. You have made a number of key points when it comes to keeping the classes engaging and the subject interesting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel it can become to easy to fall into a "rut" teaching; especially for more experienced instructors. For both inexperienced and veteran teachers frustration and underachieving student or instructor performances can be demoralizing and rob us of our passion for the profession we are training our students to enter into. Refocusing re-energizes us, our class and the material. It empowers everyone involved and makes the students more passionate and energized for their field of study. This leads to greater retention and application of information which in turn breeds confidence and more passion. It comes full circle.
Patricia,
This says a lot about your teaching. Keep up the good work. You are right about the breaks though. Students no matter how engrossed they are in the topic need to step away, move about and reset their brains. This way they will be fresh to tackle the next segment.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My students never want to take breaks. I insist that they take them to become re-energized and refocused.
Instructors must refocus in order to rekindle the fire for learning in their students and to get back on track. Sometimes it gets to the point of just going through the motions and there is little learning that is happening. Students need to be reminded why they are in the class and that they are making progress in the class.
Nieva,
Good way to give everyone a mini-break and let students reset their brains and refresh their thinking processes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Teaching individuals with different personalities and students changing attitudes due factors at home or work or life in general, although not a personal issue to the teacher affects us and burns out the energy and enthusiasm. It would be good in the middle of the course for everyone including the students have a break from the classroom setting to go a field trip related to the lesson. It is a learning process -- exposing students the the reality out of the classroom
Brenda,
Well said because as you have said teaching does take a lot out of us both physically as well as emotionally. We are impacting the lives and future success of our students so we need to be at the top of our game each and every time we interact with them. Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Admittedly, I struggle with this aspect also. I have found that during these times, refocusing is key. I will encourage the class to organize a group event like having a pot-luck meal or doing something within the school as a group, which helps to draw the focus toward a common goal; invigorating the students again.
Teaching is one of the most stressful/challenging/rewarding jobs EVER!! It takes everything out of us as humans so we need to Refocus pretty frequently. We have to remember to take care of ourselves also. Getting a "break" even for 1 minute is helpful for teachers since we have so much to give and students often get side tracked into different conversations which can offset our lesson plan. It's important to regain focus to be effective and efficient for our students.
Joe I agree with you. This happens to me when I teach the same course over and over again. Taking time to refocus helps me become a better instructor.
Gina,
As I teach five sections of the same course I can relate to your comments. I do as you do and try to introduce new information and activities in each of the sections so I remain fresh and excited about what I am teaching no matter how many I have taught the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When teaching the same subject over and over we have to be careful to keep our enthusiasm about the subject. Each term I try to learn something new about the subject I am teaching.
Gina,
I know you are going to be excited about being recharged and helping your students to get over the mid-course slump. Have fun with your efforts and get your students excited about the second part of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I absolutely love this. I can not wait to utilize "Empowerment" half way through the semester. In addition to having students review what has been learned I feel this would also be a great time to have students reflect on their personal growth.
MacDameon,
This is a good point. What are some strategies you use to keep your focus on both your students and the content you are delivering without getting in a rut?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.